Innholdsfortegnelse for 15-Jun-2019 i Amateur Gardening

1 Installing a pond, even a small one in a half-barrel, is a surefire way of attracting wildlife. Hedgehogs and birds will drink from it, and the dragonflies, frogs and toads that move in will help keep insect pest numbers down. 2 Feed birds with seeds, sunflower hearts, fatballs, leftover potato and mealworms. Clear away leftovers before they go mouldy and avoid fatty food in hot weather as it can turn rancid. 3 If you have cats, keep them in at night and make sure they wear a collar with a bell. Hang birdfeeders in open areas, not surrounded by shrubs where cats can lurk. 4 Compost heaps attract worms and create hibernation havens, while insects feed on discarded fruit and peelings that in turn attract birds to the garden.…

1 Sow Rudbeckia ‘Marmalade’ seeds thinly onto pots of dampened seed compost. 2 Top with a thin covering of more seed compost, vermiculite or a mixture of the two. 3 Label your seeds, add a lid and place somewhere warm and light until germination, then remove the lid. 4 Alternatively, sow the seeds where you want them to grow in soil that has been cleared of weeds, raked and watered. 5 Scatter a little soil on top, label and protect from pests and cats with a layer of twigs.…

1 Start by standing the plants in water for as long as possible so their roots get a decent soaking. 2 Fill the pot to within an inch of the top, ideally with container compost that is enriched with nutrients. 3 Place the main central plant at the depth of its rootball, first untangling any constricted or circling roots. 4 Add the rest of the plants, trailing ones outermost, taking care not to damage their roots or stems. 5 Once the pot is in position, raise it on feet to help excess water escape, preventing waterlogging. 6 Water the container well to settle the compost around the roots and activate water-retaining crystals if used.…

HOUSEPLANTS will be in full growth now and you should expect to be watering them each week and feeding fortnightly. Some can even be moved outside, to make the most of warmer temperatures and higher light levels. However, don’t simply plonk your houseplants on the patio. They need hardening off first, so the move to a more robust and changeable environment doesn’t cause shock or even kill them. Once outside, most varieties thrive, though some may be scorched by direct sunlight. Keep a close eye on them and return any indoors that show signs of stress. Tender orchids, African violets and streptocarpus are best left indoors all year round and it may not be practical to move larger plants to a summer location. Other varieties, however, will thrive as summer…

Deep-rooted plants and weeds, such as nettles and comfrey, draw the essential nutrients nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus from the ground and store them in their leaves. They release this goodness when steeped in water for a few weeks and the resulting liquid can be used as a feed or foliar spray. Homemade compost is a great soil enricher, and boosts water retention and workability in thin and clay soils.…

I AM often asked questions I can’t answer, and recently I had one about mealybugs in greenhouses. Mealybugs look rather like fluffy cotton buds because they have a white waxy coating that helps discourage predation, and which probably acts as a sunscreen as well. A white body will absorb less heat. Mealybugs feed on plant material with a feeding tube called a stylet, just as aphids do. The male mealybugs develop wings, but the females don’t, and these unsightly insects can weaken plants when the infestation is serious. Mealybugs can also spread viral diseases, as they travel from one plant to another, although this is less likely with a mixture of different plants. Just like aphids, mealybugs produce honeydew, and this is farmed by ants. The ants protect their pantry…

Terracotta: Pot up herbs, chillies, salads and strawbs (see above) in terracotta containers. Galvanised: Watering cans, tubs and containers with this steely-blue zinc coating will add a vintage feel. Bricks: Laid flat as a path or upended as bed edging, crumbly red bricks dappled with moss, lichen and algae can be gorgeous. Garden art: Add a cheeky cherub peeking out from the rhubarb, or a personalised bust guarding the gate! Flowers: Add bursts of cut flowers like gladioli and alstroemerias to beds, in rows or as single dot-plants.…

1 Sweetcorn enjoys a sunny, sheltered site. Dig this area over thoroughly, adding well-rotted garden compost. Water seedlings before transplanting. 2 If your seedlings are in biodegradable pots, plant these straight into the ground, otherwise, remove the pots and plant at 9x9in (23cmx23cm) spacings to form a block. 3 Water transplants in well, and give plants subsequent soakings if dry weather follows. Staking may be needed on exposed plots as the plants mature.…

IT’s nearly 40 years since Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ was first introduced – and sparked a smouldering explosion. First, other dark-leaved varieties appeared, then some with silvery patterning, followed by an avalanche of new varieties with foliage in an almost unbelievable range of colours and patterns. Popularity grew quickly, and heucheras are now up there with hardy geraniums as some of Britain’s best-loved perennials. These days it’s their foliage that captures our attention, but in the 1930s-1950s, it was all about the flowers, which were popular as commercial cut blooms. The good news is that you can now get varieties that offer good foliage and good flowers. All of them are evergreen perennials. They make a mound of lobed or jaggedly split or ruffled foliage through which vertical flower spikes emerge.…

In spring, tidy up the plants by cutting off all the foliage. Repeat in August to encourage fresh new growth for winter. If woody stems grow out from the crown, lift the whole plant and replant a few inches lower. Many varieties have insignificant flowers; trim the stems off low down below the foliage. For those with blooms worth keeping, deadhead as the flowers fade, cutting off the stems at the base. Rust disease can be a problem and is unsightly. Snip off any affected leaves and burn them, then spray the crown of the plant with a fungicide approved for rust control, such as Bayer Fungus Fighter Concentrate.…

Rosa Graham Thomas (‘Ausmas’) A popular English rose that offers a light fragrance from its reliable yellow blooms. Perfect for a south, west or east-facing position. A repeat flowerer. H: 4ft (1.2m). Clematis ‘Lasurstern A great match for Rosa Graham Thomas. Ideal for any aspect, this blue-flowering clematis is very reliable. Large flowers in May, June and September. H: 8ft (2½m). Rosa Crown Princess Margareta (‘Auswinter’) Offers apricot/orange blooms in summer and repeat flowers with a strong scent. Can cope in partial shade and grows in any aspect. H: 5ft (1½m). Clematis ‘Étoile Violette’ Ideal as a partner for Crown Princess Margareta as it also enjoys any aspect. Velvety-purple flowers appear from July to September. H: 10ft (3m). Rosa Iceberg…

In addition to providing sources of nectar, plus berries and hips for birds, there are other ways to help wildlife over winter. Here’s how: ■ Prevent the bird bath and pond from freezing over by floating a ball on the surface. This allows frogs and other pondlife to survive, and enables other wildlife to drink. ■ Provide shelter, including nest boxes for birds and cosy debris (such as leaves and bracken) for hedgehogs to hibernate in. ■ Feed small birds (such as robins and tits) by putting out seeds and nuts on bird feeders.…

Why do my sedums flop over? QI have several sedums that often start promisingly and then flop over from the base. How can I prevent this happening again? John Hawley, Harrogate, North Yorks A The centre of large sedums is quite prone to falling over, especially if there has been heavy rain or the plants have been overfed. However, it doesn’t need to happen, and there are a few things you could try. Resist the urge to feed and give too much water, as this encourages tall and lush growth that is more likely to collapse on itself. Sedums have evolved to cope with tough environments and don’t respond well to too much kindness. Another option is to head any potential problems off at the pass by placing supports around…

Haws Professional can £79.99 free UK delivery ✆ 0121 4202494 haws.co.uk Features Galvanised and powder-coated cylindrical steel body with two-gallon (nine-litre) capacity. Wide, unobstructed filling hole. In-line top carry handle and rear lifting handle. Extra-long narrow spout with removable filter. Large push-fit oval brass rose with fine spray can be swivelled to face up or down. Coarse spray rose also available. Performance Strong and well made. Fairly light when empty. Easy to fill via unobstructed hole. Nicely balanced when full, with comfy in-line carry handle. Easy to tip by lifting rear handle. Rose when turned up gives a broad, well-defined spray that is light enough for seedlings and excellent on beds, and when turned down or pulled off waters pots quickly. The long spout gives good reach. The filter…

Cleretum bellidiforme ‘Gelato Pink’ The Livingstone daisy is an annual succulent used widely as a bedding plant. Daisies open wide in the sun but close in shade. Reaches 4-6in (10-15cm) high and 12in (30cm) across. Gazania ‘Daybreak Red Stripe’ These perennials sometimes pull through winter in milder areas. Striped daisies open with the sun on plants to 9in (23cm) tall and 12in (30cm) wide. Take cuttings of long rosettes from the central stem in summer or early autumn. Dimorphotheca ‘Limpopo’ Pretty annual daisies in white, orange, peach and yellow with darker centres. So quick from seed, you could try some now into modules or direct to soaked drills. Reaches a height and spread of 12in (30cm). Ursinia anthemoides Well-named jewel of the veldt, the…

ON this day John Seymour was born in Hampstead, North London. He was to become arguably the first major proponent of gardening for self-sufficiency. He was an advocate for disciplined gardening (what to plant, when and where, to get the maximum benefit) along with personal responsibility. He taught about caring for the soil, and ultimately the planet. Today he would have been a campaign leader for environmentalism; he was an activist, rebelling against consumerism, industrialisation, genetically modified crops, cities, cars, and more. He was a prolific writer, with dozens of books to his credit, but his seminal work was Self-Sufficiency (Faber & Faber, 1970) which many claim was the inspiration for the BBC sitcom The Good Life with Richard Briers and Felicity Kendall. Seymour died in 2004.…

Most gardeners are familiar with the speedwell, a little blue flower that grows in lawns. This was also the name of the ship which, for a while, accompanied the Mayflower with the Pilgrim Fathers in 1620. Incidentally, one of its passengers was a Captain Thomas Blossom! The Cornelian cherry comes in either male or female form, each given their own species name. The male form is Cornus mas (pictured), for its perceived masculine qualities. It is markedly different to the female Cornelian cherry, C. sanguinea, which possesses a less dense woody structure.…

“Presenters will be missed” BOB Dylan’s cry of ‘The Times They Are a-Changin’ certainly applies to gardening at present. I was sad to hear that Eric Robson of GQT and Jim McColl of BBC Scotland’s The Beechgrove Garden are to retire. Eric’s knowledge and advice will be missed, and Jim’s wit and experience in gardening are irreplaceable. They have both inspired so many people to try gardening – many with personal social problems. Even if you don’t garden, just to listen and watch these two has been a pleasure! Cheryl Noyes, Penylan, Cardiff Chainsaw safety advice I READ with interest Garry’s review of the Stihl battery-powered chainsaw (AG, 9 March), and I’m surprised that you didn’t give more emphasis to the potential risks to untrained operators. Granted, you did mention…

Letter published 14 January 1978 Bible gardens THERE is a Bible Garden in Bangor, North Wales, in a part of the civic centre that adjoins the cathedral. It is planned so that plants are to be found in the chronological order in which they are mentioned in the Bible. Each plant is labelled with its number, name and Bible reference, so that one can walk round the garden and at the same time walk through the Bible, as it were, from Genesis to Revelations. Six thousand years of history, over one hundred plants… and all you want is an hour to spare! The late Professor Tatham Whitehead of Bangor University was responsible for planning the Bible Garden in 1961, much to the delight of locals and visitors alike. To try…

HARDY geraniums are one of the easiest and most satisfying plants to grow. Tough and low-growing, they thrive in sun or shade and look fantastic scrambling through a rockery. Completely hardy, they will sit through the worst winter weather unlike pelargoniums, which are also known as geraniums but need lifting and overwintering undercover Also called cranesbill, hardy geranium flowers can be white or come in shades of blue, pink and purple, sometimes with attractive veining. Plants bloom for months, the flowers sitting on the mounds of hand-shaped leaves. Hardy geraniums start to bloom in late spring and go right through until autumn. After the first flush of colour they should be cut back, otherwise they can grow straggly, out of shape and flower less productively. Simply shear them back into…

I’M as happy as a kid in a sweet shop whenever I visit a garden centre to buy plants, and my latest foray gave me an extra delight. Our local garden centre has joined the battle to reduce the amount of single-use plastic in circulation, by selling plants in recyclable grey, or ‘taupe’ pots. Thumbs up to them! And it was a grey pot that contained a Salvia Love and Wishes, with aromatic leaves, dark stems and rich-pink flowers, that I am using as the central plant in my latest patio container. It will be surrounded by petunias, lobelia and bacopa, with catmint and ivy for contrast. A container planted now should, with the right care, still be flowering well into autumn. Success starts with the compost – specific container…

STRAIGHT rows are not just attractive but also practical when it comes to the vegetable plot and allotments. I love to see the serried rows of rapidly growing seedlings at this time of year, holding such promise of harvests to come. Spaced at the correct width, every plant is able to develop to its maximum potential, and weeds are eliminated by a weekly hoe. Working backwards, using my lightweight, arrow-headed push hoe, the surface soil between each row can be sliced through quickly and with ease. “Snap the tops of broad beans at first sight of black fly” Weeds are best controlled before you can see them, although as the tilth is disturbed you can see the white threads of emerging seedlings that shrivel when exposed to drying light. This…

13-16: BBC Gardeners’ World Live: NEC Birmingham, North Avenue, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT. ✆ 0844 338 0338, bbcgardenersworldlive.com 14-15: Make a Willow Pig Sculpture: RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor 15: Beekeeping Demo: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorks HG3 1QB. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr 15-16: Specialist Plant Show: RHS Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB. ✆ 0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley 16: Celebrate Father’s Day: RHS Harlow Carr 16: Hens and Gardens: Great Comp Gardens, Comp Lane, Platt, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 8QS. ✆ 01732 885094, greatcompgarden.co.uk 16: Rare Plant fair: Waterperry Gardens, Waterperry, Oxon OX33 1LA. ✆ 01844 339254, rareplantfair.co.uk 18: Photography with Mobile Phone or Tablet: RHS Harlow Carr 20: The Curator’s Summer Garden Walk:…

AS gardens and allotments get smaller, we need find ways of squeezing a lot more from less. One effective way is to harvest sooner. You see, if you wait for crops to mature to full size, you will get less than if you take some early. With many crops, taking some sooner enables the rest to grow larger in the space liberated. Root vegetables are good examples. Carrots, parsnips, turnips and so on can be eaten from very small – in fact, those are often sweeter and tenderer than any left to full term. Just bear in mind that if you wish to store roots for any length of time, the young will usually soon wither, whereas the mature veg can keep for many months in suitable conditions. “Ensure huge…

WE’VE got medieval French monasteries and chateaux owners to thank for the potager concept – it’s a creative design of fruit and vegetable garden that’s as easy on the eye as it is productive. To me, edible plots can be just as beautiful as ornamental gardens. So how do you create your own? Tap into your imagination, as anything goes with potager gardens. Fruits, veg and herbs supply the backbone, but cut flowers and foliage are also key components; many ornamental plants can be chosen, such as viburnums, peonies, irises, lilies and aquilegias. Creative pruning and training of your fruit crops is encouraged. Fan-trained cherries, figs and redcurrants, stepover apples, espalier pears – with a little bit of secateur confidence, your edibles can become living pieces of artwork! Low, clipped…

1 Make blackcurrant harvests easier by cutting off whole stems to pick at the table . You’re inadvertently giving them a prune , saving you a job later! 2 Potted fruits will be setting a good crop by now . Take care to k eep them well sustained by feeding your plants with a liquid high-potash fertiliser every fortnight. 3 If you planted out your courgettes, squashes and pumpkins under cloches in May , remove them now in order to ensure bees can access their flowers. 4 ‘Witloof’ chicory is a delicious winter salad leaf that needs sowing now . Create drills in well-drained soil, ready to lift and store in autumn. 5 Melons growing under frames and in greenhouses will be flowering this month. As soon as blooms appear…

IF you own a glasshouse, you’re lucky – if you own one full of ripening tomatoes, you’re incredibly lucky! Watching that first fruit change colour and ripen is so exciting. To help guarantee happiness, I’ve got a few timely pointers for you. If you leave your greenhouse door open, consider erecting some netting over it. Birds (especially blackbirds) get excited by the first few ripening fruits, and they’re especially attracted to red, so netting ensures they don’t access and peck at the fruits. Keep plants well fed, watered and ventilated, especially on hot days. This helps deter blossom end rot, which is caused by a lack of water and nutrients flowing through the plants (this disorder lessens at the root system strengthens later in the summer). Finally, remove any leaves…

HEUCHERAS make exceptional container plants, especially for winter and spring colour – they associate really well with bulbs. Because of their many and varied foliage colours, the choice of container is important, and glazed pots in bright colours can be very effective. Blue-glazed containers, for example, look good planted with heucheras in orange, yellow and amber shades, such as ‘Marmalade’ and ‘Lime Marmalade’, or in smaller containers ‘Blondie in Lime’. Darker colours such as ‘Obsidian’ and ‘Blackberry Jam’ suit plain terracotta pots. Always plant in fresh container compost, standing on pot feet to ensure good drainage, and feed lightly every month during the growing season.…

THERE’S really only one pest problem with heucheras, and that’s the vine weevil – but unfortunately, it attacks on two fronts. The small black adults bite notches in the edges of the leaves, while the white C-shaped grubs with their ginger heads munch through the roots. They’re especially prevalent in well-established container-grown plants. Never buy heucheras from market stalls or roadside stands or from local plant sales – these are often sources of infected plants. Stick to recognised specialists who know the dangers and will ensure that the plants they sell are clean and uninfected. Fortunately, if vine weevil becomes a problem, there’s an effective organic control. Nemasys Vine Weevil is a formulation of parasitic eelworms that is watered on to the soil. It’s not cheap, but it can be…

Ilex x meserveae Blue Princess AGM Spreading female holly with blue-green leaves and red berries in autumn and winter. For berries you’ll need a nearby male (such as Blue Prince). Sun or semi-shade. H: 10ft (3m). Pyracantha Saphyr Orange AGM A great burglar deterrent, grow this spiny evergreen as a boundary wall shrub for bee-pleasing white spring blossom, and orange autumn berries. Sun or semi-shade. H: 6½ft (2m). Cotoneaster x suecicus ‘Coral Beauty’ AGM A useful shrub that forms a spreading layer of glossy, evergreen foliage, teamed in spring with white flowers (loved by bees) and in autumn by coral-red berries. Sun or semi-shade. H: 39in (1m). Sorbus ‘Copper Kettle’ AGM Superb for the…

Can I revive my plum tree? Q Something has gone very wrong with our ‘Mirabelle de Nancy’ plum planted six years ago. It has never fruited but this spring it produced flowers on the tips of very long, straight stems. I’m frightened to prune it, as I’ve heard they get silver leaf. What should I do? Bernadette O’Keefe, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands A Like bullaces, mirabelles are best described as somewhat feral members of the plum tribe. They are usually classified as Prunus insititia or sometimes P. domestica subsp. insititia (in other words, a subspecies of the true plum). ‘Mirabelle de Nancy’ is not generally considered to be a distinct cultivar but rather a closely related group dating back to the late 1500s from the area of Nancy in Northern…

THIS Sunday is Father’s Day, and you’d have to be living on a different planet to avoid all the marketing hype surrounding it. Most of the world celebrates fathers on the third Sunday of June, but there are many countries that do so on different days (predominantly in March and April). This week, therefore, is the perfect opportunity for us to look at dads and gardening – the two are linked in more ways than you would imagine! In the US, roses are the official flower for Father’s Day. A red rose is worn in the lapel if one’s father is living, a white rose if he is deceased. Gardens to visit ONE of the best things about Father’s Day is that it is held at a time of year…

THERE is a dearth of plants with ‘Father’s Day’ in the name. I’ve tracked down two, but they don’t seem to be available any more: A daylily (Hemerocallis ‘Father’s Day Gift’) was introduced in 2004 by US breeder Henry Boykin. It is rose-pink, with a cherry-red centre and cherry and gold edge, with a green throat. Rose ‘Father’s Day’, an orange floribunda patio rose, was bred in 1959 by the Tantau family of German rose breeders. Shropshire-based Country Garden Roses suggests the following two roses: ‘My Lovely Dad’ (pictured) – a lilac-pink hybrid tea with a superb fragrance. ‘Special Dad’ – an eye catching scarlet-red hybrid tea rose reaches just 3ft (1m) or so.…

From AG 18 July 1941 Concerning slugs and snails Q Would you kindly tell me if it is the case that certain large slugs devour small ones and should not be destroyed? I have large black and brown slugs in my garden, plus little grey ones. J.C.A., Dollar A Slugs do not prey upon one another, but they will eat the bodies of companions cut in half or otherwise dead from mutilation. The milky slug and the dark grey – often called black – slug are the worst garden pests. The jet-black, the large brown and the yellow slugs found on heaths and other places, including drains and damp cellars, are not particularly troublesome to gardeners. The shelled slug is reputed to feed on worms and other ground pests. Much…

I WOULD like to comment on what a great magazine you produce. The different articles, tips and hints make it such an interesting read. I have a lot of flowers, shrubs and over a hundred roses in my garden. I try to grow some veg every year, and my granddaughter tries the strawberries – she likes to pick them when she comes home from school! The free flower seeds are such a bonus; some of them I have not heard of, so I always look forward to growing them. Thank you for the work you put into producing the magazine. Sheila Hearne, Croydon, Surrey Wendy says: Thank you for taking the time to write to us, Sheila. Since asking for feedback for our special 135th anniversary issue, we’ve received…

FLOWER fragrances are a complex blend of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants bundled into volatile oils which, when warmed, will evaporate into the air to attract pollinators. Some are incredibly complex, containing over 300 substances, and the more complex aromas of lily of the valley, rose and spicy clove-scented pinks are the most interesting. Most flowers produce their scent in their petals, and that’s why double flowers – think roses and double Tumbelina petunias – are more scented than single varieties. The extra petals also trap scent for longer. Musk roses ( Rosa moschata hybrids) are different, as their scent comes from the stamens.…

Older plants become less productive as their centres become weak and unruly. You can create more plants (and more blooms) by dividing them. Dig up the plant with a generous amount of soil, then cut through its centre with a sharp spade or knife. Compost the old, spent centre of the plant and replant the healthy divisions, making sure each one has robust roots and shoots. Replant at the same depth as before and water generously, keeping the soil damp while they re-establish.…

Once planted, the trick is to keep your container flowering for as long as possible. With the right care it could flower through to the first frosts of autumn. Container plants have limited access to water and nutrients, so feed fortnightly with a high-potassium liquid tomato fertiliser. Water frequently, once or even twice a day if necessary on the hottest summer days. Check for slugs and snails every evening as they will hide under leaves and pot rims. Vine weevils are a major problem for containers, so use a chemical or nematode drench at the recommended frequency.…

1 Lettuce seed is slow to germinate in temperatures over 20°C (68°F), so make some sowings in cell trays somewhere cool. 2 Courgettes, pumpkins and squash need plenty of moisture, so give them an occasional good soaking. Water well once, then water again to get depth of penetration. 3 After watering, mulch over the surface with well-rooted garden compost to retain the moisture. 4 Kohl Rabi ‘Kossak’ F1 (DT Brown) sown now will result in huge roots of sweet, crunchy flesh that can be eaten like watermelon.…

1 Add dilute liquid feed when watering plants in pots at least once weekly. Want a mnemonic to remind you? Feed on Friday. 2 Add seaweed solution to watering once weekly, so that your plants won’t run short of trace elements. Do you need another mnemonic? Seaweed on Saturday! 3 Whenever watering, be careful not to splash flowers, especially those of courgettes, cucumbers (pictured above), marrows and squashes, as it may initiate rot. 4 Sow successional batches of lettuces, radishes (pictured above), spring onions and other saladings and herbs such as rocket, chervil and dill.…

1 Woven fence: Defining plot boundaries, edging beds and surrounding lofty crops – a carefully woven hazel or peastick ‘fence’ adds a real cottage garden feel to the plot. Any twiggy prunings work well. 2 Bird scarer: Just a few old potatoes and feathers can be quickly fashioned into an effective bird scarer. Hang the whole lot from a flexible long pole or upcycled fishing rod, and it’s complete. 3 Dreamcatcher: With a ball of garden twine, plus some sturdy canes or sticks and a dollop of time, you can easily weave an inviting dreamcatcher-style support for climbing beans or squashes.…

LOOKING like a cucumber that’s swallowed a hedgehog, the bitter melon ( Momordica charanti a) is a short-lived tropical perennial vine, best grown as an annual. While it might crop outside in a sunny spot, this plant is best treated like a conventional melon or cucumber, and given a spot in a greenhouse, polytunnel or conservatory. Give it a vertical length of twine or bamboo cane to climb, and it quickly scrambles up using its tendrils for support. Bright yellow flowers appear in summer – these are either male or female, so pollinate the females with open male blooms to obtain fruit. Harvest while still green or just turning yellow. Hollow out the central seeds and pith, stuff, dice into salads, fry in batter or throw into a curry.…

Heucheras are best planted in well-drained, fertile soil, preferably neutral or a little alkaline. Avoid situations where the soil is unusually wet in winter; most heucheras will tolerate drought once established. Full sun, light or dappled shade, or shade from a fence or wall are all suitable planting sites. Some varieties may scorch in full sun in high summer, especially if they dry out.…

CLEMATIS have played a large part in my life for many years. My great-uncle was John Treasure of Burford House Gardens in Worcestershire and his garden was dripping in clematis. At 16, I started my gardening career working in his nursery. John was often described as the Clematis King and even has one named after him – Clematis ‘John Treasure’. The clematis in John’s garden were, more often than not, planted through other shrubs. They were rarely pinned up uncomfortably against trellis. As a very novice gardener, I clearly recall the excitement of spotting a clematis flower from among a shrub or climbing rose. For a second you wonder where it’s come from until you see the stems weaving their way up and through the bush. Planting clematis through a…

Symphyotrichum ‘Little Carlow’ AGM From late summer through into autumn this crowd-pleasing aster forms a cloud of pale violet-blue daisies with golden centres; it will attract nectar-hungry butterflies as well as bees. Grow in sun or semi-shade. H: 3ft (90cm). Hylotelephium ‘Matrona’ AGM Both honeybees and butterflies flock to the cream-pink flowers of this stonecrop, which bloom atop port wine stems and among purple-tinted leaves. For best results, grow in poor soil, in sun. H: 2 ½ ft (75cm). Hedera helix They may not look much, but the scented spherical flowers of the rampant common ivy provide bees with valuable late-season nectar. And the seed heads look so pretty when dusted with frost. Sun or shade. H: 33ft (10m). Galanthus nivalis AGM The good…

Given the right food, any of the following could visit your garden this autumn/winter: Goldfinch: Eats the seeds of teasels. Blackbird: Loves berries such as Cotoneaster . Fieldfare: Partial to berries including rowan ( Sorbus ). Waxwing: Eats rosehips and berries. Blackcap: Likes sunflower seeds and berries such as those of Cotoneaster and elder. Bullfinch: Devours berries and is partial to the fruits of honeysuckle, rowan and pyracantha.…

NOT all vegetables are good candidates for growing from plugs. Root crops such as carrots, parsnips and swedes don’t like having their roots disturbed, and as a result these are best sown direct. Don’t bother with radish plugs, either. They are so quick and easy to grow from seed that it’s not worth it. Bear in mind, too, that the choice of varieties for plug plants will be a lot more limited than veg seeds, and if you want to cultivate a specific variety of, say, tomato, growing from seed may be your only option.…

ALONG hose connected to an outdoor tap is the easiest option for general garden watering, but you’ll still need a good, large watering can. A can is the best way to distribute rainwater from a water butt, which is better for plants than tap water. A can is also essential for mixing and delivering liquid feed. When it comes to watering cans, size matters. You don’t want one that is so heavy when full that you can hardly lift it (remember, you don’t have to fill it to the brim), nor one that’s so small you continually have to fill it. Your strength will be a consideration, but so too will be the position and comfort of the handles, and the balance of the can. It may seem a simple…

A light, moderately fertile soil enables plants to thrive, spread and flower in summer, but also overwinter safely for another year. Provide a sunny position in order to ensure sturdy growth and plenty of daisies. Water in well after planting out and also while establishing. Feed occasionally (when the soil is moist) with a well-balanced liquid formula. Aphids (greenfly) might appear, but leave nature to take its course and these will soon be dealt with by an army of parasites and predators. In spring, tidy overwintered plants by trimming away any dead stems and shortening leggy shoots.…

ORCHIDS are a great way to add spring colours to any living space. To ensure your orchids flourish, Miracle-Gro is giving AG readers the chance to win an indoor gardening bundle comprising Miracle-Gro Orchid Mist, Miracle-Gro Orchid Concentrate and Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food Concentrate. Miracle-Gro Orchid Mist encourages strong growth and heavy flowering by creating a hydration layer around the plant. Combined with Miracle-Gro Orchid Concentrate’s mix of nine nutrients, your flowers will blossom beautifully. For your other plants, Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food concentrate guarantees beautiful, healthy and strong plants with greener leaves. We have three bundles to give away, each worth £12.99. How to enter Send your name and address on the back of a postcard to Miracle-Gro Indoor Gardening Bundle Draw (15 June), Amateur Gardening, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst…

Carl Linnaeus (1707-78): It was his idea to give plants Latin names, and as a result he became known as the ‘father of modern taxonomy’. Gregor Mendel (1822-84): He discovered that offspring shared characteristics of their parents, by studying peas grown in his garden over many years. He is known as the ‘father of genetics’. Almaty: This is the main city of Kazakhstan. Traders travelling on the Silk Routes across Asia developed a taste for apples and spat their pips out wherever they rested, and many grew around this place, which translates in the Kazakh language as ‘father of apples’ (see picture).…